The air of the underground black market was thick with the pungent stench of charred flesh, mixed with the smoke of expensive cigarettes, creating a suffocating atmosphere.
The bald, burly man's charred corpse lay silently in front of the bar, still emitting faint wisps of smoke.
In a place where people lived on the edge of a blade, no one would risk their neck for a dead man, especially after witnessing such an incomprehensible method of killing.
The once noisy black market had fallen into complete silence.
The scarred curse users held their breath, not daring to even glance directly at Rin, afraid that the eerie blue lightning would strike them next.
Gulp.
The information broker behind the bar swallowed hard.
A veteran who had navigated both the legal and illegal worlds for years, adapting to the situation was second nature to him.
With trembling hands, he pushed the bank card containing ten million yen back toward Rin.
"M-My lord… the information is free. Please consider it a token of friendship," the broker stammered, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.
"Speak," Rin said, crushing his cigarette in the ashtray, his gaze indifferent.
"The headquarters of the Star Religious Group… is a private manor deep in the mountains of Gunma Prefecture. On the surface, it operates as a charity called the 'Home of the Children of the Stars,' but in reality, it is their core sanctuary for worshipping Lord Tengen. The thirty million yen bounty on the Star Plasma Vessel was transferred directly from their offshore accounts."
The broker spilled everything he knew without holding anything back.
"As for the Zen'in Toji you asked about… ah, no, he's married into another family now, so he goes by Toji Fushiguro. He was expelled from the Zen'in clan a long time ago…" The broker rambled, fumbling over the details, but quickly stopped when he noticed Rin's growing impatience. "He's a gambler! As long as there's money, he'll take any job! If he's not on a mission, he's usually at underground horse racing tracks or pachinko parlors in Shinjuku or Shibuya."
Rin gave a noncommittal nod.
"Gunma Prefecture… Star Religious Group."
He murmured to himself, tapping his fingers twice on the wooden bar counter.
"Spread the word to the curse users who accepted the bounty. If they don't want to die, they'd better withdraw immediately. If anyone still dares to target the Star Plasma Vessel…"
A crimson six-pointed pattern flashed briefly in the depths of Rin's pitch-black eyes.
"They'll end up just like that bald man."
Leaving those words behind, Rin turned and walked away. Under the terrified gazes of dozens, his figure distorted and vanished into the black market air.
Only after a full five minutes had passed did the market erupt in relieved gasps.
…
Two hours later.
Deep within the mountains of Gunma Prefecture stood the "Home of the Children of the Stars" manor.
The sprawling manor was built against the mountains and beside the water, its architecture both classical and opulent.
Though it claimed to be a charity, the perimeter was lined with infrared surveillance systems and armed guards.
This was the headquarters of the Star Religious Group.
Inside the chapel at the heart of the estate, several bishops in ornate robes knelt before a portrait of Lord Tengen, praying with utmost devotion.
"The thirty million yen bounty has already been posted."
A cardinal lowered his voice as he addressed the leader seated at the head. "As long as those curse users successfully assassinate the Star Plasma Vessel, Lord Tengen's physical body will be unable to undergo assimilation. His existence will approach that of a 'god,' no longer bound by this human shell. This has been the long-cherished wish of our Star Religious Group for centuries."
"Everything for the pure god," the leader said with his eyes closed, his expression filled with fanaticism.
At that moment...
Boom!
The chapel's solid wooden doors, a full ten centimeters thick, were kicked apart from the outside without warning.
Large fragments of wood shot into the chapel like cannonballs, smashing several rows of pews to pieces.
The praying bishops leapt to their feet in terror, screaming as they turned toward the entrance.
Through the settling dust and smoke, a young man in a black trench coat stepped inside, a pitch-black straight sword sheathed at his side. He moved forward at an unhurried pace, as though taking a casual walk.
Behind him, the heavily guarded manor had already become a silent purgatory.
Every guard and mercenary lay sprawled across the ground in unnatural positions. There were no visible injuries, yet all of them had lost consciousness.
This was the most basic genjutsu cast through the Sharingan.
"You… who are you? This is the sanctuary of the Home of the Children of the Stars! How dare you trespass!" the leader shouted. His voice was loud, but the lack of confidence in it was unmistakable.
Without sparing the so-called portrait of Tengen a glance, Rin walked straight to the center of the chapel.
His gaze swept over the cultists, their minds twisted by blind devotion, and a mocking sneer curled at his lips.
"The Star Religious Group. A nest of parasites hiding in the mountains, using their followers' money to hire assassins to kill a fourteen-year-old girl."
Rin casually drove the Kusanagi Sword into the stone floor in front of him.
"Your fanatic worship of that Lord Tengen… it disgusts me."
"Heresy! This is blasphemy!" the cardinal shouted in fury. "Guards! Security! Where are the guards?!"
"Stop shouting," Rin said flatly. "Everyone outside is already asleep."
Rin stood with his hands in his pockets, the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan in his right eye slowly spinning.
"I'm a reasonable person. I'll give you two choices."
"First, withdraw all bounties on the Star Plasma Vessel immediately. Then donate every yen you've swindled over the years to child welfare organizations. Turn yourselves in and spend the rest of your lives in prison."
At those words, several bishops looked at Rin as if he were insane.
"What an arrogant madman! Our Star Religious Group has powerful backing!" the leader laughed angrily.
"It seems you've chosen the second option."
Rin showed no surprise. He did not even bother to draw his sword.
The hexagram in his eye instantly stabilized.
Hum.
An invisible surge of chakra swept through the entire chapel like a psychic storm.
This was no simple hypnosis like the one used on the guards outside. This was a Mangekyō-level genjutsu capable of rewriting perception and crushing mental defenses outright.
The leader and bishops, who had been shouting just moments ago, suddenly fell silent.
Their eyes turned vacant, their previous fanaticism replaced by overwhelming terror and emptiness.
Within their minds, the Lord Tengen they worshipped had become a monstrous entity that devoured everything, tearing their souls apart piece by piece.
Thud. Thud.
One after another, they collapsed to their knees, clutching their heads as pained whimpers escaped their throats.
"Go withdraw the bounty."
Rin's voice fell like a decree, engraved directly into their shattered minds.
"A… and then what…" the leader muttered blankly, drool slipping from his mouth.
"Then set this place ablaze and carry your sins to hell."
Rin turned away and pulled out the Kusanagi Sword.
The space within his right eye twisted into a vortex, and his figure vanished from the chapel.
Five minutes later, the Star Religious Group's luxurious manor, built with hundreds of millions, was engulfed in flames.
After withdrawing the bounty, several high-ranking members walked into the sea of flames like lifeless puppets and never came out again.
In the distant night sky, Rin stood at the edge of a cliff, watching the raging fire below, his expression utterly indifferent.
"Half of the troublesome flies have been dealt with."
He summoned the system panel and checked the time.
11:00 PM.
"Next, it's time to have a talk with that Heavenly Restriction monster."
___
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